Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River (Louisiana). The population was 110,257 at the 2000 United States Census; a 2007 census estimate put the Lafayette, Louisiana metropolitan area's population at 256,494. It is the fourth largest city in the state. It is the larger principal city of the Lafayette-Acadiana, LA Combined Statistical Area, which, in 2007, had an estimated total population of 538,470.

The city was founded as Vermilionville in 1821 by a French language-speaking Acadian named Jean Mouton. In 1884, it was renamed for General Lafayette, a French military...

Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River (Louisiana). The population was 110,257 at the 2000 United States Census; a 2007 census estimate put the Lafayette, Louisiana metropolitan area's population at 256,494. It is the fourth largest city in the state. It is the larger principal city of the Lafayette-Acadiana, LA Combined Statistical Area, which, in 2007, had an estimated total population of 538,470.

The city was founded as Vermilionville in 1821 by a French language-speaking Acadian named Jean Mouton. In 1884, it was renamed for General Lafayette, a French military hero who fought with and significantly aided the American Army during the American Revolutionary War. Niles Weekly Register, BALTIMORE, June 26, 1824; LAFAYETTE The city's economy was primarily based on agriculture until the 1940s, when the petroleum and natural gas industry became dominant.

Lafayette has a strong tourism industry, attracted by the Cajun and Louisiana Creole people cultures of the surrounding region. Because of the Cajun culture's affinity for good food, it has one of the highest numbers of restaurants per capita of any U.S. city.


Geography
Lafayette is located at (30.213901, -92.029363) and has an elevation of.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 47.7 square miles (123.5 km²), of which, 47.6 square miles (123.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.19%) is water.